Artificial intraocular lens, altered natural crystalline lens, or refilled natural crystalline lens capsule with one or more scleral prostheses for improved performance

Abstract

A system includes an intraocular lens configured to replace a natural crystalline lens of an eye. The system also includes one or more scleral prostheses configured to be inserted into scleral tissue of the eye. The one or more scleral prostheses are configured to modify a structure of the eye to improve an accommodative ability of the eye with the intraocular lens. The intraocular lens could represent an accommodating intraocular lens, and the one or more scleral prostheses could be configured to increase an amount of accommodation achievable using the accommodating intraocular lens. The intraocular lens could also represent a non-accommodating intraocular lens, and the one or more scleral prostheses could be configured to provide an amount of accommodation achievable using the non-accommodating intraocular lens.

1 . A system comprising:
 an intraocular lens configured to replace a natural crystalline lens of an eye; and   one or more scleral prostheses configured to be inserted into scleral tissue of the eye, the one or more scleral prostheses configured to modify a structure of the eye to improve an accommodative ability of the eye with the intraocular lens.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the intraocular lens comprises an accommodating intraocular lens; and   the one or more scleral prostheses are configured to increase an amount of accommodation achievable using the accommodating intraocular lens.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the accommodating intraocular lens comprises a single-optic accommodating lens. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the accommodating intraocular lens comprises a multi-optic accommodating lens. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the multi-optic accommodating lens has a shape similar to a shape of the natural crystalline lens of the eye. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the intraocular lens comprises a non-accommodating intraocular lens; and   the one or more scleral prostheses are configured to provide an amount of accommodation achievable using the non-accommodating intraocular lens.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises multiple scleral prostheses. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 inserting an intraocular lens into an eye to replace a natural crystalline lens of the eye; and   inserting one or more scleral prostheses into scleral tissue of the eye, the one or more scleral prostheses modifying a structure of the eye and improving an accommodative ability of the eye with the intraocular lens.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the intraocular lens comprises an accommodating intraocular lens; and   the one or more scleral prostheses improve an amount of accommodation achievable using the accommodating intraocular lens.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the accommodating intraocular lens comprises a single-optic accommodating lens. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the accommodating intraocular lens comprises a multi-optic accommodating lens. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the intraocular lens comprises a non-accommodating intraocular lens; and   the one or more scleral prostheses provide an amount of accommodation achievable using the non-accommodating intraocular lens.   
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 modifying a natural lens of an eye; and   inserting one or more scleral prostheses into scleral tissue of the eye, the one or more scleral prostheses modifying a structure of the eye to improve an accommodative ability of the eye with the modified natural lens.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein modifying the natural lens comprises softening the natural lens using a laser. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein modifying the natural lens comprises modifying the natural lens using at least one of: a pharmaceutical agent, a laser, electromagnetic waves, magnetic waves, sound, and ultrasound. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein inserting one or more scleral prostheses into the scleral tissue of the eye increases tension on zonules of the eye, thereby improving the accommodative ability of the eye. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein inserting one or more scleral prostheses into the scleral tissue of the eye comprises inserting multiple scleral prostheses into the scleral tissue of the eye. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 filling a crystalline lens capsule of an eye with one or more materials; and   inserting one or more scleral prostheses into scleral tissue of the eye, the one or more scleral prostheses modifying a structure of the eye to improve an accommodative ability of the eye with the filled crystalline lens capsule.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein inserting one or more scleral prostheses into the scleral tissue of the eye increases tension on zonules of the eye, thereby improving the accommodative ability of the eye. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein inserting one or more scleral prostheses into the scleral tissue of the eye comprises inserting multiple scleral prostheses into the scleral tissue of the eye.